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1. C. COCHRAN AND S. A. WILLIS. STATION mmcno.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 'l' i916.

J. C. COCHRAN AND S. A. WILLIS. STATION INDICATOR. APPucAtlon man Dsc. 1.1916.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

I. C. COCHRAN AND S. WILLIS.

STATION INDICATOR. APPLICATION FILED DEC. I. ISIS.

Patented Sept. 16, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Tus coLUMBlA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON. D. t.

UNITED STATES PMENT OFFICE.;

JOHN o. 'COCHRAN AND SAMUEL A. WILLIS, or Bito'iitYN, Yioitii; sID wiIiL-Is AssiGNoR To' SAID oooriiaAN.Y

STATION-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters atent.

Application faea December 1, 191e. serial Ne.v 134,317.

T0 all 'whom t may conce/rn.'

Be it known that JOHN C. COCHRAN and SAMUEL A. VILLIS, citizens of ltheUnited States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Station-Indicators, of which the'following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in indicating mechanism and particularly to mechanism for exposingsuccessive indications'in predetermined order. A preferred embodiment of the general invention is employed in connection with the indicating of stations and the present disclosure is based on rsuch use without however restricting the invention to suchparticular use. y

Various forms of apparatus for this purpose have heretofore been employed, one type employing a web structure and operating mechanism which is designed to move the web back and forth relative to a sight opening through which a particular indication is exposed, the web being moved interinittently by suitable means, as by .the ma'- nipulation of an operator at will or through connections which will provide for an automatic. movement. The present invention pertains more particularly` to this general type. In such devices it is the general -practiceto employ a pair of spools to which the ends of a web are connected. During the operation the web is led from one spool to the other until the end of thev routey is, reached, whereupon the mechanism is manipulated to return the web to the initial spool. -f l ,y

In such devices, and especially where the route includes a comparatively large number of stations, necessitating the us'e'of a web of considerable length, thevariations in the diameter of the roll due to the adding to or removal of the successive convolu'tions of the web, offer material difliculties to the proper operation of the mechanism. This difficulty increases where the web isof somewhat fragile character as where ordinary paper material is usedA for the web, 4there being a constant tendency to disrupt the strip under the drawing action of the mechanismy in providing the travel of the web, excepting possibly under conditions where the spool from which the web is being unwound is left free, which in turn providesl disadvantages" in that the eperation of the mechanism intermittently will tend to produce an overrunning action'V and thus aect theI proper.v positioning of the indication in therear of the sight opening, as wel-lv as providing other obvious disadvantages'.'l` l 'y Attempts have been made to meet this particular condition' byva'rying the spacing of the indications oir-'the web.'A While thism'ay tend toy overcome some of the objections where used in connection with a web of material lsuflicient-to'withstand the drawing tensions, etc., other' difficulties are such' Aas to materially affect the proper feed of the' web. f Y The present invention is designed more particularly to meetV these various objections and at the same time permit the use of webs of any desired length and; if desired, ofthe ordinary paper type; the structure' 'bein such as to provide for. proper winding and unwinding action` without the presenceof drawing strainson the-web and at the same time provide vagainst overrunningg-in addi-v tion, the. construction provides for equal spacingof the indications on thei.web,-elimiY nating. the difficulty presented b'yreversal inedirection of wind and unwind of the web with the resultan-t variationsin'roll diame# ters., A 5.

Thev 'invention .also Lcontemplates the substitution' of arbi-tary indications, such for instance-asnumerals, for the usual namedesignated indications of stations. Theinventiom- -in'addition tor these general objects, is designed to provide for simple and eflicient operation, improved takeupf and let-olff'mechanism, structure compact in form,v4 durable ini constructionV and'` which can-,be manufactured and installedl at *minis mum cost., n I I To. these and other ends,pthe nature of which will be readily understoodV as the-'injvent-ionis hereinafterI disclosed,.said invention yconsists in the improved construction and combination off parts hereinafter, Afully described, illustrated in the, accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in .theappendedclaims :1. r

In the accompanying"drawings, "in Jwhich similar reference characters indicate similar parts Aiueali ofthe views,-`

Figure -1 is av perspective View of the indicatorcomplete:V .l I

. Figi. ,2 is ya ce1itralyertical sectional View. Figs. 3,4 and' 5l are sectional views taken on the lines 3 3, 4--4 and 5-5 respectively of Fig. 2, parts of these views being shown in elevation.

Fig. 6 is a 'front elevationV of internal parts, the easing being shown in section.

Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views showing different positions of the actuating mechanism for the web support.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of a stop mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional View of one of the spools, a portion of the frame of the mechanism being included.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line 11--11 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detail view showing a portion of the mechanism for locking the web against advance movement.

Fig. 13 is a view showing a portion of a chart employed in connection with the mechanism.

In the drawings, 15 indicates a casing having a rear wall 15L and bottom 15b to which the operating mechanism is secured, and 16 indicates a removable cover having a sight opening 17 at its front, the latter preferably being closed by a glass plate 17a through which the desired indication is to be eX- posed.` Obviously, other well known types of apparatus for rendering an indication prominent may be employed. As shown in Fig. 1, the cover may carry a permanent indication, such as Next stationffalthough this Vis unessential. The cover and casing are connected in any suitable manner so as to inclose the mechanism, suitable openings 15C being left in the bottom for the passage of actuating cords, or other operative mechanism presently referred to.

Mounted on the bottom 15b, and secured to the back 15 is a frame composed mainly of side plates 18a', spacing bars 18h, and a plate 18C, these parts iXedly locating the two side plates parallel with each other. these plates carrying substantially the entire operating mechanism.

Secured to the inner side of each plate 18a is a bracket 19. 20 designates a shaft which extends laterally of the mechanism and through brackets 19, being supported therein by sleeves 21 mounted loosely on the shaft and carried by the brackets, each sleeve carrying an arm 22 on the outer side of the bracket, and a sector 23 inside of the bracket. The sleeve 21 and the parts carried thereby are held in normal position by a spring 24 preferably o'f the c onvolute type, with one end connected to the sleeve and the opposite end connected to the bracket. Each sleeve is independently movable rotatively on the shaft and each isA adapted to be given rotative movement by means of cords 25 which are'secured to the respectiveV sectors and are carried downwardly through openings 15, these cords forming a simple type of actuating devices for the structure, as presently described. Each sector is preferably provided with a cord-receiving groove 232l Within which the cord rests and which forms a guiding element therefor. Additional guides 26 are mounted ou posts 2G projecting inwardly from the side plates 18a. The sectors and the connections of the operating cords therewith are so arranged that when one cord is drawn downwardly, the sector to which itis connected is moved in one direction of rotation against the tension of its spring 24. The other sector and its cord remains inactive during such movement, being adapted when operated, to rotate in the opposite direction, the springs 24 being adapted to return the sectors to their normal positions when the cords are released.

Mounted at each end of sha'ft 20 outside of arms 22 are spacing members 27 which are adapted to position wheels 28 from arms 22, said wheels being secured to shaft 2O in suitable manner. Y Wheels 28 are provided on their peripheries with teeth 28, these teeth being adapted to cooperate with perforations a carried by the web a. The opposite ends of the web are carried by spools 29, previously referred to, these spools being adapted to carry the wound convolutions of the web, the latter extending around stationary member 30 and over wheels 28, as shown more clearly in Fig. 5, the teeth 2821 entering the perforations a of the web.

The movements of the web are provided by the oscillating movements of sectors 23, this action being obtained through operating connections located between arms 22 and wheels 28.

Each wheel 28 is provided with a plurality of pins 31 projecting inwardly at uniformly spaced points of the wheel in such locations as to be within the path of movement of a pawl 32 pivoted on arm 22.

Asshown in Figs. 3 and 7, pawl 32 is normally locatedV in proximity to one of the pins 31 (preferably the lowermost one), the normal position of the opera-ting sector of the pawl being shown in Fig. 3, in which 'the pawl is shown as in contact with a stop 32a carried by thebracket; pawl 32 also carries a shoulder 32D, which cooperates with a stop 32C carried by arm 22, and in the normal position of Fig. 3, this shoulder is shown as spaced from stop 32, the pawl being held in this position by a spring 32d. Vhen one of the operating cords 25 is drawn downwardly,

as for instance, the cord of Figs. 7 and 8, the initial action is to start the rota-tion of sector 23, thus moving arm 22 counter-clockwise in Fig. 7, thus permitting spring 321 to shift pawl 32 on it-s pivot to bring shoulder 32b into contact with stop 32C thus causing lthe pawl to slightly shift to bring its toe into the path of and behind the particular pin which is immediately in advance of the pawl. After Contact of pawl and pin is had during such movement of the cord, continued movement or' the cord in the saine direction Will cause arm 22 to continue this counter-clockwise motion andV carry with it the Wheel having the pin which isengaged by the paWl. rlhe completion oi' this movement is shown in Fig. S, in ivliich'the arm 22 is shown as having been brought'into con tact with a stop 33 carried by the bracket, thus limiting the further travel of the arm and the Amovement of Wheel 28. When the cord is released, spring 2f-l'returns the sector 23 to its normal VVposition by a -clockwise movement in Figs. 7 and 8, this return move nient bringing the paivl into contact with the succeeding pin 3.1, and since the paWl is free to move pi'votally, said paWl will slip by such succeeding-pin and pass to the position shown in Fig. 3, placing the partsin position 'for another operation or for a reversal operation by the other sector incase 'the other cord is the 'one drawn. both wheels 28 are mountedon shatt'20, it Will be readily understood that this movement in one direction of the Wheelv is communicated to the other Wheel by shaft 2Q, said shaft rotating freely in sleeve 210i vthe inactive sector, the tWo Wheels and the shaft forming a rotatable support for the Webi Stop 33 acts to limit the travel of arm 22 in advancing the Wheel. To limit the return movement of the sector under action loit spring 24 we provide a stop 34 carried by the bracket, arm 22 contacting with this stop in the normal position of the sector, kas shovvn in Fig. 3. p

As will be understood, this limitation of travel of a sector limits, the length of travel ofwvheels 28, and since the driven `ivheel 28 mustbe moved a distance suiiicient to.Y place the succeeding pin in proper positionto be engaged by the paivl, the full stroke of the sector is to be given at each-manipulation; should the movement be of less length, the succeeding pin would not be brought into proper position6 Should this occur, tl-iecord is again manipulated causing arm 22 to travel without pawl engagei'nentivvith a pin until the parts Ahave been brought Ito theposition left by'tliem at the end of theA preceding: movement, whereupon the stroke can be 'ompleted, thus placing the parts in proper position,V VHence there is provided a Wheel travel movementof definite length with each actuation of a sector, and since the iveb travels with Wheels 28 by reason of the teeth and perforation connection therebetween, it will be understood that the iveb `WillA be caused to travel a definite distance relative to the sight glass with each-operation, thus enabling the indications, indicated at o2", vto be spaced apart equidistaiit on thervveb. Y

Stop 33 Willact to limit they travel ofarm in the advancing direction.l However, this stoppage of the arm is ineective on the riphery in advance 'of travel of `Wheels 28, ln order, therefore, to

of arm 22,"said arm, Wheirin normal posi- Y tion, 'nioving lever 35 on itsv'pivot against the tension oit spring 35a, thus removing the toe 'oit the other arm out of contact with l,

iia'nge 37 and out ofthe path of shoulder 36, permittingtheoperation of the sector previously described.'V `As arm 22 advances duri iig the operation'herein described, spring moves lever 35 on its pivotuntiltlie engag ing toe of' the Alever again'f'contacts Y v'lith flange 37, thus placing this toe .in the path oftrav'el oislioulder 36 with which it preferably engages concurrentlyivith contact of' arm 22 and stop 33, thus preventing any overrunning action of ivhe'els 28. Since this I position or lever-w35 is not changed untilarm 22 again contacts With the lever, it Will be understood that the Web .Willbe held from 'changing its Iposition ,until this lever has been in'oved by'alrin' 22.

I Thel connections betiveenthe several arms 22 and Wheels 2`8`a`r'e similar, the parts being so arrangedthat, regardless of Which cord is actuated, the relation of pins vand of the panfls is the same upon the completion orf-the cycle of s ectoi` movements, thus Ven,- abling` either cord ,to be actuated at. Will, the particular lcord 'employed. deter mining the direction of movement of the Web.,

l `38 designates men'ibersfcarried'by the side )vilates1,88L projecting laterally Y,thereof to forni f passagevvayslvvithiii which the 'edges Iof the' `iveb tra-vel to and `trom the spools.

^ sivill-rbe nnderstood, a vveb of a length si'ifIii-ent to containra comparatively large.v number of .indications, as, for instance, is required in indicating' stoppage points for stations Yon arrailivay lor streetcar system, with ythe indic'ationsmof sufficient size as to be easily read byan observer, Will provide va Vcomparatively-lai'ge number of convolutions on spools :29, these convoiti- YtionsV increasing land decreasing in ,numberV asthe VWeb is shirted'yfrom one spool to the other", one spool acting was., a takefup` roll ivhiletheother acts to let oil"v the convolu tions asgthe web travels. Since :the ,peripheral sp'ee'cl of a roll varies in proportion to its diaiiieteig it vvill be readily understood that Witha' peripheral speed of both rolls equal to each other the rotational speed4 of the wheel will vary with the variation in such diameter. There is a constant change in the relation of periphery and rotational speed of the spool acting as the takeup roll, and as the `rotational speed is, for structural reasons, made uniform, provision is made to automatically compensate for this change in relation by providing a yielding connection between that portion of the spool carrying the web and 'the portion which is positively driven.

This construction is shown more particularly in Figs. l0 and 11 in which 39 indicates a shaft carrying a sleeve 40, the latter havingl enlargements 40a. Said enlargements are provided with' spring supported members 41, preferably projecting radially Y from the enlargements into contact with the interior of the cylindrical spool 29 and frictionally engaging said spool. If shaft 39 be driven at a constant speed, the frictional engagement will tend to cause the spool to rotate in unison therewith as long as the resistance provided by the web is not greater than the friction developed by members 41. Since the spool is not required to act as a web-drawing element, the friction may be comparatively light, thus permitting any increase in resistance to produce a relative slip action between members 41 and the spool without placing material strain on the web.

Owing to the fact that the direction of travel of the web is reversible,'thus shifting the take-up action from one roll to the other, both spools must be capable of being positively driven, and since the let-off spool must permit. of free let-off action, the connection between shaft 39 and its drive is provided by a pawl and ratchet connection between the drive, represented by sprocket wheel 42, and shaft 39, the ratchet wheel being indicated at 43and pawl at 44. As shown in Fig. 4, the ratchet mechanisms of the two spools operate in opposite directions. n Both of the sprocket wheels 42 are driven in synchronism 'by endless sprocket chain 45, which also engages the teeth of sprocket wheel 46 mounted on shaft 20, a chain tightening device 47 being provided in order that proper action will be had.

As shown in Fig. 10, ratchet 43 is secured to and rotates with shaft 39, while sprocket 42 is loosely mounted on the shaft and carries a member 42a on which pawl 44 and its actuating spring 44a is mounted. The opposite end of shaft 39 projects through the opposite side plate 18a and preferably is held against endwise movement by a tension member 48 contacting with the end of the shaft, the tension member preferably having means for adjusting the tension.

By this arrangement, positive compensating action will be had irrespective of the direction of travel of the web. For instance, assuming tra-vel of the web counter-clockwise in Fig. 4, thus winding the web on the spool at the left of Figs. 4 and 5, sprocket wheel 42 at the left will kbe driven counterclockwise thus moving its pawl 44 in the lsame direction and causing this shaft 39 to be positively driven in such direction. This produces a substantially constant rotational speed of the shaft and enlargements, and since the peripheral speed of member 29 remains the same, the variations in diameter produced by the added convolutions provide the relative slip or differential movements between the `shaft and spool 29, thereby maintaining the web leading to the vspool taut without, however, placing any undue strain on the web or acting to draw the web in such manner as to shift the position of wheels 28.

During this operation the web is unwinding from the spool at the right in Figs.v 4 and 5, the movements of wheels 28 tending to draw the web from this spool. The sprocket of this spool is also traveling counter-clockwise and is positively driven by chain 45, but the decreasing diameter of the convolutions on this rspool does not affect a slip action at the friction mechanism, the relation between the periphery and rotational speeds of this structure being overcome in the ratchet-mechanism. During the let-off operation the cylindrical spool 29 acts as a drive member for shaft 39 through the frictional connection, ratchet wheel 43 traveling with the shaft. At the same time the pawl is being moved by the positive drive of sprocket 42 of this roll, and the parts are so arranged that during this action the travel of the pawl is at a slightly greater speed than that of the ratchet with the result that a relative movement between pawl and ratchet will be present.

As a result, the general relation of pawl and ratchet is maintained, but at the same time the web is drawn ofi' ofthe spool without material resistance.l In addition, overrunning of this spool by the drawing of the web is prevented for the reason that this would increase the speed 0f travel of the ratchet to a point greater than the speed of travel of the pawl, thereby driving the adjacent tooth of the ratchet into Contact with the pawl and immediately stopping this overrunning action, the greatest amount of overrunning travel being the length of a single tooth.

It is to be understood, of course, that the parts are so proportioned that the operations referred to will be produced. For instance, the proportions may be such that the pawl and ratchet of the spool being unwound travel at equal speeds when both spools are carrying approximately the same number of convolutions. This','of course, may be varied as desired.

As shown in Fig'.v 6, we preferably employ rollers49 carried by brackets 50 for the purpose of insuring a proper engagementV of teeth 28 and perforations a', rollers 49 being shifted as shown to permit ofthe travel of teeth 28n while the web is forced into contact with the periphery of the wheel.

Since, during the unwinding action, shaft 39- of the spool being unwound is traveling inthe direction of unwinding movement, the drawing strain on the spool is reducedy to a minimum, it being requiredl only to .take care of the variations in movement, the slight resistance between the ratchet wheel and its pawl being immaterial.

It will therefore be readily understood that the c'onpensating structures enable operation to be had with substantially no drawing strains or overrunning effect, thus enabling the web to be maintained in a substantially taut condition.

The web is secured to the spools in any desired manner, and to prevent undue strain on such connection we preferably employ a locking mechanism which automatically acts to limit the travel of the web beyond the safety point. This is provided by projecting a pin 50 into the path of arm 22 which is being moved to provide the web travel. Said pin is carried by a pivoted lever 51 (Figs. 2 and 12), said lever being connected to a rod 52 extending between the brackets and capable of longitudinal movement. The structure is in duplicate, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, each rod carrying a yielding` abutment 53 at a proper point. 54 indicates -a member carried by shaft 20 and having recesses 54"L to receive rods 52. Member 54 is movable in the direction of length of shaft 20 by a threaded connection therewith. As a result, member 54 will be moved back and forth between abutments 53 through the movement of the shaft under the sector operations heretofore described. This threading action gradually moves member 54 into contact with the abutment located in its pathV of advance movement, further movement shifting the rod on whichV the abutment is mounted, to actuate lever 52 and project the pin into the path of movement of arm 22 to prevent further web movement in this direction. This acts to lock the mechanism against continuing movement wit-hout placing any st-rain on the web. The direction of web travel'is then reversed, member 54 moving in the opposite directionand withdrawing pin 50` from its locking position. Abutments 53 may be adjustable on the rods, thus` permitting variation. in the total length of travel ofthe web.

W'hile the structure thus described is adapted to provide the step by step movement to the web, with each step ofv equal length,`fajnd" `Vthecasing structure is'fsoarrangedY as to prevent access to the :mechanism excepting n'ianipulating such' casing, the operatin mechanism issoy arranged that them'echanism fordriving the web in this manner is normally maintained 'outof engagement with the web support and Aspools excepting during periods when vsector move-. ment is being had;` At other times, -the'websupporting structure 'andthe' spools arefree to be movedl' to "enable shifting ofthek web manually in 'either direction by" operating, forl instance, the'chai'n structure 45. j Since this chainconn'ects" the web "supportA and spools, andthe 'compensating meczh'a'nismv is active duringthe movement of' the chain', such l,shifting action; caribe had when desi-red' by'removing casing structure.' i -f i' If' desired, we.v mayemployvr signaling mechanism, such, forlinstan'ceasf a gong -v55 to' ind'icate when a Ychange ismad'e irr the'ind'ica-` tion." An operating mechanism thereforV is shown in Fig.' 3 in which 56 'indicates a striker having aftoe V56a land"normally'held ina neutral position by springs 57' and'58`.V

59 indicates a sliding' member' carrying` a v pivotedlejver 60 the latterhavfmg a shoulder 6(1)?L adapted` to coperate withtoe56f; The upper "vend of member 59k is formed witha cam-like face 59eY which' is located inA the path of travel of pins 61 (which may be continuations of pins 3l projected-on the opposite side' of wheel 28). Asprin-g 62 tends to maintain member 5.9"in its upper position, pin G1'` moving the member downwardly during the latter' portion of, the travel of'wheel 28. Spring 63' tends tomove lever 60 toward! strikerf, thisv movement coaction of a pin lli) 60e' and toe amoves'the structureto; place spring4 58 under' tension. `When lever'v 60 again passes into cont'actwitli pin 64, the` downwardA movement causes theileverto be gradually moved away fromv fthe striker under the action'o'f" pin 64, and'whenthis movement reaches a. point where'sliot1lder 60a'passes out of: contact with'to'e 5611,-'the tension Vof spring 58 becomes. effective;A to throw the `striker"outwardly'` into" contact with the gong-'against the-actionY ofV spring 57', the latter ytheni becoming eectiveA to return the striker to neutral position. The completion of this movement places the signaling mechanism in its inactive position ready lfor the succeeding operation. y

-The indicating mechanism thus described is adapted for use in various relations, but has its preferred embodiment employed in connection with indications which are arbitrary in character, such forl instance as numerals or indications of an equivalent type, thus enabling the use of mechanism which is compact and comparatively narrow in width, occupying but little space in the car, while making the indications of a size easily read from any portion of the car.

lhen used in this form as a station indicatoi', stations are each given an arbitrary indication, successive stations having the successively-arranged arbitrary indications. When so arranged, we preferably provide schedules or charts which interpret the applicationof the arbitrary indications to the names of the stations, these charts or schedules being posted at suitable points accessible to the traveling public so thatthe relation may be readily determined.

' This arrangement provides a number of advantages. For instance, a daily traveler quickly learns the particular indication which represents his station. As the preferred embodiment contemplates the use of successive numerals, inspection of the eX- posed indication will quickly inform the traveler of the approximate number of stations distant from his home station at any time, without being required to learn the particular order of stations on the route traveled. Another advantage results from the fact that similar indications maybe employed for a number of different routes, in which case a ear may be shifted from one route to'another without rendering the indicator useless or without requiring a change in the web. Vhen this course is pursued, the chart or schedule preferably indicates the various routes and the particular relation between the arbitrary indications and the stations of each route.

A fragmentary arrangement of a chart of this type is shown at B in Fig. 13.

While we have shown the actuating mechanism in the form of cords adapted for manual operation, it is to be understood that this showing is simply by way of example, it being readily understood that cords 25 may be replaced by other structures for manual manipulation or for connection to mechanism which willautomatically provide the sector action at predetermined points, such actuating mechanismpbeing well known in the art.

While we have herein shown and described `Va preferred construction and arrangement stood that variations or modifications therein may be required or desired to meet the eX- igencies of use, and we therefore desire it to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes or modifications as may be found necessary or desirable in so far as the same may fall within the scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims; and it is further un-A derstood that the invention is not limited to the particular use referred to but may be employed in other connections where the conditions of use are of the same general type as those indicated herein.

What we claim is:

l. In combination, a web, a pair of spools to .which the web is secured and on which it is wound and unwound, a rotatable support` on which the web travels, means for driving said support step by step in either direction of rotation, and means independent of the action of the driving means for automatically locking the support against advance movement, said means being operative at a predetermined point in the travel of the web, whereby the connection between the web and the spool will be maintained free fiom drawing strains.

2. In combination, a web, a pair of spools to .which t-lie web is secured and on which it is wound and unwound, a rotatable supporton which the web travels, means for driving said support step by step in either direction of rotation, and means for automatically locking the support against advance movement, said means being operative at a predetermined point in the travel of the web,`whereby the connection between the web and the spool will be maintained free from drawing strains, said locking means being rendered active and ina-ctive by the movements of the rotatable support.

3. ln combination, a web, a pair of spools carrying the web, a rotatable support over which the web travels, a means for rotating the support.l means for moving the web op? erated by the rotation of the support, signal mechanism and means operated by the rotation of the support to actuate .the signal mechanism.

et. In combination, a web, a pair of hollow spools carrying the web, a rotatable support over which the web travels, means for rotating said support, a driving element for each spool, means for rotating said driving` elements actuated by the rotation of thesupport and frictional driving means between said driving elements and the spools at points within the hollow portion Aof each spool and beneath the location of the web carried by the spool.

5. In an apparatus of the character described and in combination, a web, a pair of spools to which the web is secured and on which it is wound and unwound, a rotatable mechanisms for and adapted to cooperate4 with each Wheel for movingy thesupport, each of said mechanisms being adapted to provide support-movements ina single direction, said mechanisms and the Wheels being operatively engageable solely during mechanism movements, whereby said Webl may be moved independently of said actuat` ing mechanisms. f

6. Inan apparatus ot the characterv de`- scribed and in combination, a web, a pair of spools to which the web is secured and on which it is wound and unvvound, a rotatable support-'over which the web travels, said support including a pair of spacedapart aXially-alined Wheels mounted to operate in synchronism, and means tor` moving said support step-by-step in either direction of rotation, said means including independent mechanisms :tor and adapted to` .coperate ivith each wheel for moving the support, each of said mechanisms being adapted to provide support-movements in a single direction, said mechanisms and the Wheels being operatively engageable solely during mechanism movements in oneA direction, whereby said web may be moved independently of said actuating mechanisms.

7. ln an apparatus ot they character described and in combination, a web, a pair of spools to which the web is secured and on which it is ivound Iand unwound, a rotatable support over which the web travels, said support including a pair of spaced-apart axially-aimed wheels mounted to operate in synchronism, and means for moving said support step by step in either direction of rotation, saidmeans including an oscillatory element having an armV and a'member for moving said arm, a paivl carried by said arm and yieldable in one direction, and. p-ins carried by one of saidavheels Within the path of travel of saidv piavvl, the movement-s ot said arm in one direction engaging the paivl and a pin to drive the support in Webadvancing direction, the movementrof said support. positioning a. succeedingpin in the path of travel of the paivl. l .i

S. in an apparatus ot they character-described andv in combination, a Web,a pair of spools to which the web is secured andv on vvhich it is Wound and unwonnd, a rotatable support over which the web travels,V said support including a pair' of spaced-apart axially-alined Wheels mounted. to operate in synchronism, and means. for moving said support step by step in either direction-0f rotation, said means inclndingan oscillatory element having an arm and' a memberVv for moving said arm, a paivl carried -by said arm and yieldable in one direction, and pins carried by one of said Wheels Within the path` of travel of said p avvl, the movements of said arm in oney direc-tionv engtugingi the pawl and a pin to drive the support in Webadvancing direction, the movement of said support vpositioning a succeeding pin in the path of travel ot the panl, and stop mechanism for limiting theoscillating movements of said elements, thev relative positions of said pins being determined by the length of support movement. Y

9. In an apparatus of the character described and in combination, a. Web, a pairof spools to Which the web issecured and 0n which it is Wound and unwound, a rotatable support overvvhichthe web travels, said support including a pair of spaced-apart yaXially-alined Wheels mounted to operate in synchronism, and means for moving said support step-by-step in either direction of rotation, said means including an oscillatory element having an arm and a member for moving said arm,`V a paivlcarried by said arm, and having a. lost-motion relation thereto, pins carried-by one of said Wheels andl adapted to cooperate with said pawl in the advancing movementsv ot the support, and a spring adapted t0 maintain said paivl in one of its lost-motion positions, whereby said pawl isk normally outot the path of movement of said pins'.

10. In an apparatus of the character described and in combination, .a web, a pair of spools to Which the Web is secured 'and on Which it is Wound and unWound, a rotatable'support over which the web travels,

said support including a pair of spacedapart axially-alined Wheels mounted to operatein' synchronism, and means for moving -said support in either direction of'rotation, ,saidl means including anoscillatory mechanism for moving said support in one direction', stopmechanism tor-limiting the length "of each otv suchmovements of the oscillatory mechanism, and means rendered active and inactive by such oscillatory movements -for limiting the movement offthe support,

11. 1n an apparatus. of the character described and in combination, a web, a pair of spools to Whichthe web is'secured and on Which it is Wound and unvvound, a rotatable support over" which the Web travels, said support-including a pair of spacedi-apart aXially-alined Wheels mounted to. operate in synchronism, and; meansfor. moving said support in either direction` ofv rotation, said means including an oscillatory mechanism for moving said support in oney direction, stop mechanism for/limiting the length-fot each of' such movements ofv the oscillatory mechanism, .andmeans rendered active and inactive by such-oscillatory movementsk for limiting the movement of the support.sai0l' ioo latter means including spaced apart abutinents carried by a wheel, and a bell' crank lever normally held out of the path of movement of said abutment by said oscilla-tory mechanism and movable into Vsuch path by the movement of the support.

12. In an apparatus of the character described and in combination, a web, a pair of spools to which the web is secured and on which it is wound and unwound, a rotatable support over which the web travels, said support including` a pair of spacedapart aXially-alined wheels mounted to op-A erate in synchronism, and means for moving` said support in either direction of rotation, said means including an oscillatory mechanisin for moving said support in one direction, stop mechanism for limiting the length of each of such movements of the oscillatory mechanism, and means rendered active and inactive by such oscillatory movements for limiting the movement of the support, said latter means including spaced apart abutments carried by a wheel, and a, bell crank lever normally held out of the path of movement of said abutment by said oscillatory mechanism and movable into such path by the movement of the support, said abutments being relatively positioned to provide enga-gement of an abutment and said lever concurrently with the activity of the stop mechanism in limiting the oscillatory movement.

13. In an apparatus of the character described and in combination, a web, a rotatable support over which the web travels,

means for moving said support step by step in either direction of rotation, a pair of rolls to which the web is secured and on which it is wound and unwound, each roll including a shaft and a web-supporting spool concentrically'arranged and relatively movable rotatively, friction mechanism between said shaft and said spool and rendered active at spaced points in the length ofthe spools, and operative connections between said support and said shaft.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, and in combination, a web, a rotatable support over which the web travels, means for moving said support step by step in either direction of rotation, a pair ,of rolls to which the web is vsecured and on which it is wound and unwoundeach roll including a shaft and a web-supporting spool concentrically arranged and relatively movable rotatively, friction mechanism between said shaft and said spool and rendered active at spaced points in the length of the spools, and operative connections between said support and said shaft, said connections including a drive element loosely mounted on each shaft, and pawl and ratchet mechanism connecting said drive element and its shaft.

15.7In an apparatus of the character described, and in combination, a web, a rotatable support over which the web travels, means for moving said support step by ste-p in either direction of rotation, a pair of rolls to which the web is secured and on which it is woundand unwound, cach roll including a shaft and a web -supporting spool concentrically arranged and relatively movable rotatively, friction mechanism between said shaft and said spool, and rendered active at spaced points in the length of the spools, and operative connections between said support and said shaft, said connections including a drive element loosely mounted on each shaft, and pawl and ratchet mechanism connecting said drive element and its shaft, the pawl and ratchet mechanism of one roll being inactive during the activity of the similar mechanism of the other roll.

16. Iny combination, a web, a pair of spools to which the web is secured and on which it is wound and unwound, a rotatable support on which the web travels, means including a pair of arms for driving said support step by step in either direction of rotation, and means for placing` an obstruction in the path of travel of either arm to prevent movement thereof to advance the web.

1.7. In combination, a web, a pair of spools to which the web is secured and on which it is wound and unwound, a rotatable support on which the web travels, said support includin ,f a threaded shaft, means including a pair of arms for driving said support step by step in either direction of rotation, and means for placing an obstruction in the path of travel of either arm to prevent movement thereof to advance the web, said latter means including a pin foi.- each arm, and mechanism for moving the pin into and out of obstructing position, said mechanism including an element adapted to coperate with the shaft threads.

18. In combination, a web, a pair of spools to which the web is secured and on which it is wound and unwound, a rotatable support on which the web travels, said support including a threaded shaft, means including a pair of arms for driving said support step by step in either direction ofV rotation, and means for placing an obstruction in the path of travel lof either arm to prevent movement thereof to advance the web, said latter means comprising a pair of longitudinally movable rods, pin-carrying levers connected to said rods, an adjustable abutment carried |by each rod, and an element threaded to said shaft and movable between said abutments by the rotation of the shaft.

19. In combination, a web, a pair of spools to which the Web is secured and on which it is wound and unwound, a rotatable support on which the web travels, said support including a threaded shaft, means including, a pair of arms for driving said support step b-y step in either direction of rotation, and means for placing an obstruction in lthe path of travel of either arm to prevent movement thereof to advance the web, said latter means comprising a pair of longitudinally movable rods, pin-carrying levers connected to said rods, an abutment carried by each rod, and an element threaded to said shaft and movable between said abutments by the rotation of the shaft.

20. In an apparatus of the character described and in combination, a web, web-moving means including la rotatable support, means for moving said support step by step in either direction `of rotation, a signal, and mechanism for rendering said signal active at predetermined points in the travel of the web, said mechanism including, a signal-actuating member, a normally inactive spring for moving said member to actuate the signal, a spring-sustained element movable longitudinally and carrying a pivoted lever, means carried by said support for moving said element in one direction and maintaining it in predetermined position, said means being active at spaced intervals during a step travel of the support, said lever and signal actuating member having complemental means for temporary engagement when said element is moved from normal position, return movement of said element placing said spring under tension, and means for breaking the engagement of lever and member during such return travel to render said spring active to move the member to actuate the signal.

InV testimony whereof we aiiiX our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JOI-IN C. COCHRAN. SAMUEL A. WILLIS.

Witnesses FRANKLIN SoHENcK, S. DoRsnY.

Copies of this patent may 'be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

